QMI Agency

A bizarre -- but perhaps warranted -- officiating call has resulted in two American high school hockey teams being crowned state champions.

The Sylvania Northview Wildcats and St. Ignatius Wildcats agreed to be co-champs after the Ohio teams were unable to settle a 1-1 game after seven overtimes.

Both head coaches decided to pull the plug on the epic Saturday afternoon showdown out of concern for the health and safety of the players, ABC reported.

Per Ohio High School Athletic Association rules, shootouts are not allowed.

The marathon draw, which lasted four-and-a-half hours inside Columbus' Nationwide Arena, tied an Ohio high school hockey record for longest game, according to the Toledo Blade, and is the longest in state final history.

Judging by their faces at the 40-second mark of this YouTube video, the players weren't too pleased with the tie ruling: